9/9/2017

Gov. Scott Issues Updates on Hurricane Irma Preparedness

WINTER PARK, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott received a full update on Hurricane Irma from the State Emergency Operations Center. The Governor is continuing to travel the state today to meet with local officials, ensure communities have all the resources they may need, and to encourage families and visitors to be fully prepared. The Governor will continue to be in constant communication with state and local emergency management officials, city and county leaders, and utility officials who are also working to ensure the state is prepared to respond to any potential impacts from Hurricane Irma.

EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTIONS BY STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM

WATCHES AND WARNING –

• A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Volusia/Brevard      county line southward around the Florida peninsula to the Suwannee River,      including the Florida Keys and Tampa Bay.
• A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for north of the      Volusia/Brevard county line to the Florida/Georgia Border and on the west      coast north of the Suwannee River to the Ochlockonee River.
• A Hurricane Warning is in effect from the      Florida/Georgia southward around the Florida peninsula to the Aucilla      River, including Florida Keys, Lake Okeechobee, and Tampa Bay.
• A Hurricane Watch is in effect for areas west of the      Aucilla River to Indian Pass.
• Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for areas west of      Indian Pass to the Okaloosa/Walton County line.

EVACUATIONS

Though the below evacuation orders are current and in effect, everyone should check with their local emergency management office or website for the most up to date information regarding evacuation as they are constantly being updated.

• DEM estimates that 6.3 million Floridians have been      ordered to evacuate.
• While Col. Jason Kirk with the U.S. Army Corps of      Engineers and the Corps.  have assured the Governor that the      structural integrity of the Dike will not be compromised, Governor Scott      ordered mandatory evacuations in the cities surrounding the southern half      of Lake Okeechobee from Lake Port to Canal Point in Hendry, Palm Beach and      Glades counties. This decision was made due to Governor Scott’s sole focus      on life safety as Hurricane Irma approaches Florida. The seven cities      affected by these orders are as follows:

• South Bay
• Lake Harbor
• Pahokee
• Moore Haven
• Clewiston
• Belle Glade
• Canal Point
• Brevard – mandatory evacuations for Zone A, Merritt      Island, barrier islands, and some low-lying mainland areas along Indian      River Lagoon
• Broward – mandatory East of Federal Highway including      barrier islands
• Charlotte – voluntary evacuations for Don Pedro Island,      Knight Island (Palm Island), Little Gasparilla Island, Manosota Key, all      mobile homes
• Citrus – mandatory evacuations for residents west of      Hwy 19, 1 and ½ miles east of Hwy 19 excluding Sugarmill Woods. This also      includes all of the city of Crystal River, all low lying areas throughout      the entire county and anyone residing in mobile homes, manufactured homes      and all unsafe structures throughout the entire county
• Collier – mandatory evacuations for Goodland,      Everglades City, Chokoloskee, all mobile homes
• Desoto- voluntary evacuations for people in      low-lying/flood prone areas, residents living in mobile homes and RV parks
• Flagler – mandatory evacuations for nursing homes, all      varieties of assisted living facilities, and community residential group      homes within coastal and Intracoastal areas and voluntary for zones A, B,      C, F; mandatory for Zones A,B,C,F, and substandard housing beginning on      Saturday
• Glades – mandatory evacuations for areas around Lake      Okeechobee (Lakeport, Moorehaven, Washington Park, Benbow and Uncle Joe’s      Motel and Campground). Also mandatory for residents in Zone A and anyone      in an RV park, mobile home or building constructed before 1992.
• Hardee – voluntary evacuations for low-lying areas,      mobile homes, and port structures
• Hendry – voluntary evacuations for low-lying areas,      non-slab-built homes, mobile homes, trailers and RVs, mandatory for areas      near Lake Okeechobee (Clewiston, Hookers Point, Harlem, Flaghole, Montura      Ranch Estates, Mid-County MSBU which inlcudes Ladeca, Pioneer Plantation      and Leon-Dennis Subdivision, Al Don Farming Road)
• Hernando – mandatory evacuations for Zones A and B and      mobile homes
• Highlands – voluntary for low areas and      mobile/manufactured homes
• Hillsborough – voluntary for special-needs residents in      Evacuation Zone A.
• Indian River – voluntary evacuations for barrier      islands, low-lying areas, mandatory for Saturday
• Lee – mandatory for Cape Coral west of Burnt Store Road      and south of Cape Coral Parkway, east of Del Prado Boulevard to Viscaya      Parkway, North Fort Myers south of Bay Shore Road from Moody Road to State      Road 31 and areas south of North River Road from State Road 31 to Fichters      Creek, areas of Iona south of Maple Drive, west of U.S. 41, San Carlos      Park west of U.S. 41, Estero west of U.S. 41, north of the Estero River,      Bonita Springs communities along Estero Bay and the Imperial River Basin,      all of the barrier islands.
• Manatee – voluntary evacuations for Zone A and mobile      homes.
• Martin – mandatory evacuations for barrier islands,      manufactured homes, and low-lying areas beginning Saturday
• Miami-Dade – mandatory evacuations for all of Zone A,      all of Zone B, and portions of Zone C. Miami Dade residents can find their      zones by clicking HERE.
• Monroe – mandatory evacuations for visitors and      residents. A dedicated transportation hotline is available specifically      for individuals in the Keys at 305-517-2480
• Pasco – mandatory evacuations for residents living west      of U.S. 19. Also mandatory for residents living north of Fox Hollow Drive      west of Little Rd. and south of Fox Hollow Drive west of Regency Park      Blvd./Rowan Rd./Seven Springs Blvd. Special needs residents, and those      living in manufactured homes, mobile homes, RV’s, and anyone living in a      low-lying area or an area prone to flooding are also under mandatory      evacuation. Voluntary evacuations for residents living south of Fox Hollow      Drive to the south county line between Regency Park Blvd./Rowan Rd./Seven      Springs Blvd. and Little Rd.
• Palm Beach – mandatory evacuations for Zone A and B,      voluntary for Zone C and Lake Zone E (Canal Point, Belle Glade, and      Pahokee)
• Pinellas – mandatory evacuations all mobile home and      Zone A
• Sarasota – voluntary evacuations in Zone A (Longboat,      Lido, Siesta, Casey Key, Manasota Key, Venice Island), all mobile homes
• St. Lucie – mandatory north and south Hutchinson      Island, low-lying areas, manufactured homes
• Additional evacuations are expected throughout the      state. All Floridians should pay close attention to local alerts and      follow the directions of local officials.

SHELTERS

• More than 320 shelters are open throughout Florida with      a total population of more than 54,000 individuals. This number is being      updated throughout the day.
• Visit floridadisaster.org/shelters/summary.aspx to find information on shelters in your area. This      site is being updated as shelters open throughout the day.
• Shelters are continuing to open across the state,      including shelters for people with special needs, pets and general      populations. DOH is coordinating the set up and staffing for special needs      shelters. To find information about available shelter information by      county, floridadisaster.org/shelters.
• FEMA is also hosting shelter information on its mobile      app which can be found at fema.gov/mobile-app.

POWER AND UTILITIES

• The current power outage as of 11 a.m. is 24,843. For a      full breakdown, visit http://floridadisaster.org/info/outage_reports/latest.pdf

• The state is coordinating with utilities to identify      potential fuel, equipment, lodging or resource needs as utility providers      stage assets to help restore power as quickly as possible following the      storm. Approximately 24,000 restoration personnel have been activated to      help restore power as quickly as possible following the storm’s impact.
• Duke Energy Florida is mobilizing approximately 7,000      lineworkers, tree professionals, damage assessment and support personnel      to safe locations prepared to respond to outages once Hurricane Irma      reaches Florida.
• Florida Power and Light has activated its emergency      response plan and has thousands of workers preparing to respond to Irma.      FPL is also working with out-of-state utilities and electrical contracting      companies to secure additional resources and has opened more than 20      staging sites throughout the state, where restoration crews, trucks and      equipment are stationed.
• FPL will be begin powering down Turkey Point Nuclear      Plant at midnight tonight.

 

STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER/ CONTACT INFORMATION

• The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated      at a level one, which is a full-scale, 24-hours-a-day activation.
• The Florida Emergency Information Line has been      activated and is available 24/7 for families and victors at      1-800-342-3557.
• Floridians can text FLPREPARES to 888777 in order to      receive text alerts from FDEM.
• The media line is 850-921-0217.
• Follow @FLSert or @FLGovScott on Twitter for live      updates on Hurricane Irma.
• Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org to find information on shelters, road closures, and      evacuation routes.
• On Monday, Governor Scott issued Executive Order 17-235 declaring a state of emergency in all 67 counties      within the State of Florida.

MILITARY SUPPORT

• Governor Scott has activated the entire force of the      Florida Army and Air National Guard – 7,000 guard members – to support      with planning, and logistics operations in preparation for potential impacts      from Hurricane Irma. These members are stationing across the state and      actively assisting with preparation efforts. The Florida National Guard      has 1,000 high water vehicles, 13 helicopters, 17 boats and more than 700      generators on standby.
• The Florida National Guard is coordinating a      multi-state response focused on planning and preparation of thousands of      forces available to enhance security and support humanitarian assistance      and disaster relief. States that have deployed troops or are positioning      support include North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky,      Illinois, Connecticut, Mississippi and New Jersey.
• The Florida National Guard is coordinating with the      National Guard Bureau to identify approximately 30,000 troops, 4,000      trucks, 100 helicopters, and air evacuation crews that are standing by for      Hurricane Irma support, if needed.
• The Florida National Guard is currently engaged in more      than 100 shelter missions across the state.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission      (FWC) has more than 200 officers standing by for the first wave of      response based on potential storm impacts. Thirty teams with supporting      resources such as trucks, coastal and river patrol boats, ATVs and shallow      draft boats are preparing for evacuation support, search and rescue      missions, or any additional needs.
• FWC has over 500 law enforcement vessels standing      ready.
• FWC has reached out to partners in 10 other states to      make plans in case additional resources are needed in response to      Hurricane Irma. Texas Parks and Wildlife will join the response today with      60 officers and 20 boats. Other states that have already volunteered to      help include Georgia, Mississippi, Delaware, South Carolina, Missouri,      Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas and Pennsylvania.
• FDLE established 18 emergency response teams for      deployment to impacted areas. FDLE regions in impacted areas are operating      Regional Law Enforcement Coordination Teams in advance of the storm to      assist local law enforcement with any needs. Seven logistics teams have      been established to assist with planning before and after the      storm. FDLE regions are helping staff local emergency operations      centers.
• The entire Florida Highway Patrol, approximately 1,700      troopers, is on 12-hour shifts, with the primary mission to assist      emergency preparedness and response.
• FHP continues to conduct emergency missions, including      numerous fuel truck escorts to various locations including Ft. Pierce,      Wellington, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Port Everglades and Ft. Myers.      FHP is also escorting a DOH disaster response communications trailer and      coordinating multiple requests from local sheriffs for assistance with      evacuation efforts that are beyond their resources.
• In addition to these missions, all 10 FHP troops across      Florida have a 33-person Quick Response Force (QRF) team, for a total of      330 troopers, on standby for response where needed. FHP is pre-deploying      one team to the Ft. Myers area for quick response after landfall with      follow up teams available once the storm track/landfall is determined.
• Additionally, all special equipment such as command      posts and high water recovery vehicles have been prepared for quick      deployment after landfall to assist with recovery and road clearance      efforts.
• The division of Motorist Services has its Florida      Licensing on Wheels (FLOW) mobiles on standby and will deploy them to      impacted areas as needed.
• Though state offices were closed yesterday,      DHSMV’s Customer Service Call Center assisted 983 customers and Field      Support Help Desk handled 70 calls from stakeholders. This      service provided customers or tax collectors assistance as they prepare      for the hurricane.
• Florida Incident Management Teams (IMT) are mobilizing      to provide overall statewide command and control for all Urban Search      & Rescue (US&R) and lifesaving operations.
• FEMA Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) teams are in      route to staging areas for rapid deployment behind Hurricane Irma,      including additional teams standing by in Georgia for deployment.

TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC WORKS (Transportation ESF)

• The Florida of Department of Transportation (FDOT) is      in the process of completing the closure of Snapper Creek service plaza on      the Turnpike (near the Don Shula in Miami). FDOT will be closing the      Pompano and West Palm Service plazas at Noon in order to allow our staff      to return to their homes in time for the 3:00 PM local curfew.
•  The remaining plazas will be closed from south to      north as conditions worsen.  FDOT will close each in time to secure      equipment and evacuate our staff prior to the arrival of TS force winds.
• Traffic volume has sufficiently decreased through the      limited Emergency Shoulder Use (ESU) plan on Interstate 75 such that there      is no longer a need for the program at this time. FDOT continues to      monitor traffic volume on evacuation routes across the state and stands      ready to implement the ESU plan if needed.

• Governor Scott directed the Florida Department of      Transportation (FDOT) to suspend tolls across the entire State of Florida      in preparation for Hurricane Irma. Tolls will be suspended for the      duration of the storm’s impacts to Florida.
• Real-time traffic information and evacuation routes is      available at www.FL511.com
• FDOT has increased the number of road rangers who are      patrolling Florida’s roadways 24/7 to assist motorists.
• Around the state, FDOT has 13 Traffic Management      Centers where hundreds of DOT workers are monitoring traffic cameras 24/7      to ensure traffic flows continue and evacuations proceed without      interruption.
• FDOT officials are also monitoring road cameras at the      State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee around the clock to help      keep traffic moving.
• FDOT is coordinating with Google’s emergency response      team to prepare to ‘close’ roads in Google Maps in real time in the event      that Hurricane Irma forces the closure of any roads in the aftermath of      the storm. Google Maps are used for Uber and Waze among other directional      applications.
• The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has      suspended construction contractor work and prepared key evacuation routes      for possible shoulder use.
• FDOT is coordinating with county emergency operations      centers directly to coordinate any necessary response actions, including      activating traffic counters, providing local evacuation support and      providing maintenance of traffic and other assistance.
• FDOT is coordinating with utility companies to stage      and fuel their crews at the department’s Weigh Stations in Punta Gorda and      Martin County. FDOT’s cut and toss crews will also be working with utility      crews to clear road debris so power can be restored once it is safe to      send crews out.
• The state is monitoring conditions at all airports and      seaports. Operations are suspended at the Key West International Airport.      Additional airport closures are expected.
• Ports Update:
• Key West: Port Closed
• Miami: Port Closed
• Port Everglades: Port Closed
• Palm Beach:  Port Closed
• Canaveral: Port Closed, two oil tankers waiting      offshore to discharge oil once USCG reopens port
• Jacksonville: Port Closed
• Tampa: Port Closed
• Panama City: The port is open to commercial traffic;      however, all containers have been moved off the port property and      cranes are secured for the hurricane.
• Pensacola: Ports and facilities are currently open to      all commercial traffic and all transfer operations may continue while      preparations continue.

VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS 

• Florida needs 1,000 volunteer nurses to help at our      special needs shelters. Nurses who can volunteer can email BPRCHDPreparedness@FLHealth.gov. Nurses can also email HelpFL@FLhealth.gov.      Governor Rick Scott activated the Florida Disaster Fund      to support individuals who are impacted by Hurricane Irma. The Florida      Disaster Fund helps provide financial support to Florida’s communities in      times of disaster. To make a contribution, please visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.org      or text DISASTER to 20222 to make a one-time donation of $10.
• In anticipation of Hurricane Irma, Walmart and the      Walmart Foundation have made a commitment to provide support for relief      efforts through cash and product donations of at least $1 million to      organizations helping in response.
• Volunteer Florida is coordinating with volunteer      organizations across the state and has partnered with the American Red      Cross to provide shelter operations training to volunteers and AmeriCorps      grantees. To volunteer, go to volunteerflorida.org or call 1-800-FL-Help-1.
• More than 17,000 Floridians have signed up to      volunteer, exceeding Governor Scott’s volunteer goal. Floridians are still      encouraged to sign up.
• Volunteer Florida is working with the Red Cross to      identify staffing for host shelters in Sarasota, Alachua, Leon Counties.
• Feeding Florida has 3,000 shelf stable meal boxes ready      to distribute to staging areas in Miami and Orlando. Feeding Tampa Bay is      putting together 1,000 reusable bags each with 20 pounds of food which      will create approximately 20,000 meals. Feeding Florida also has baby      food/formula kits available to distribute. Shipments from Kellogg’s have      begun arriving.  250 volunteers have deployed with Feeding Tampa Bay.      They have secured15,000 Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs) and three truckloads of      water from Feeding America.
• Volunteer Florida Community Emergency Response Team      members are working in Pinellas County to set up the EOC, provide Special      Needs Evacuations support the Lealman Fire District, and provide      evacuation notifications.
• American Red Cross teams are coordinating feeding at 27      shelters throughout the state; 1769 people have received snacks, clean up      kits, and meals.
• The Salvation Army now has the capability to provide      100,000 meals a day. All 47 Salvation Army units – from Pensacola to south      Florida – are on standby and eager to assist residents in need. For more      info, please click HERE.
• Eight of the Florida Baptist Convention kitchens have      arrived. They have the ability to feed 90,000 people immediately and have      requested food from USDA.
• AmeriCorps members from Volunteer Florida grantee Heart      of Florida United Way is staffing the 211 Crisis Hotline in Central      Florida
• Church World Service has hygiene kits and cleanup      buckets on standby.
• Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida has showers      and trailers available in Pensacola and Lakeland for deployment, as well      as supplies such as chainsaws, shovels, safety equipment and 1,200 tarps.
• Church of Latter Day Saints has chainsaws, tarps, and      water on standby.
• United Methodist Church has hygiene kits and flood      buckets on standby.
• Angel Flight SE has 700 pilots based in the      southeastern U.S. available to assist.
• Church of Scientology is activating volunteers for      Florida and receiving volunteers and donations in Clearwater.
• Church of Latter Day Saints is transporting material      (primarily tarps, chainsaws, food and water) to Orlando, more on order      from Atlanta Bishop’s Storehouse
• Mission North American Disaster Relief is staging      equipment in various locations across the state and have two shower      trailers available.
• UMCOR has 2,500-3000 flood buckets on hand and 3,000      hygiene kits.
• United Way is arranging enhanced staffing for 211 to      support and direct residents.
• Four Community Emergency Response Team volunteers from      Collier County are working at the Ava Maria University shelter.
• Volunteer Florida is working with Anheuser Busch and      Coca Cola to identify water donations for emergency relief. Anheuser-Busch      is sending 310,000 cans of drinking water to Sarasota, Ft. Pierce and      Orlando.

HUMAN SERVICES

• The state has established local points of contact with      mass care organizations and volunteer agencies, including working with the      American Red Cross to coordinate sheltering and feeding operations. The      American Red Cross has also established a Disaster Relief Operation (DRO)      in Orlando and is actively opening shelters.
• The state is staging mass care supplies such as meals,      shelter support trailers and water at the State Logistic Response Center      in Orlando for deployments as needed.
• The state is sending 120,000 dehydrated meals to The      Salvation Army and The Florida Baptist for distribution as needed.
• Food Safety Response Teams are beginning to be placed      on standby for recovery assessments.
• The state has also requested from FEMA an additional      6.9 million shelf meals for post-landfall.
• The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF)      has released September Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)      benefits to current recipients who have not yet received them to assist      with Hurricane Irma preparations.
• DCF is working closely with the community-based care      lead agencies as they work directly with foster parents in their      jurisdictions to make sure they have everything they need to be prepared      and stay safe, including for applicable evacuations.
• DCF is also communicating with the Florida State Foster      and Adoptive Parent Association to check for any unmet needs, which there      are none at this time.
• The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer      Services is coordinating with Florida Veterinary Medical Association      (FVMA) for solicitation of volunteers from the Florida Veterinary Corps      and distribution of information to all FVMA members.

VETERAN SERVICES

• The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA)      operates six skilled nursing facilities and one assisted living facility.      All state veterans’ homes are currently operational.
• For information on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs      (VA) closures, please click HERE.
• Veterans from storm-impacted areas who require      immediate assistance may contact: VA Health Resource Center Disaster      Hotline: 1-800-507-4571.

STATE OFFICE CLOSURES

• Governor Rick Scott has directed all state offices in      all 67 Florida counties to close Friday, September 8 – Monday, September      11.
• In partnership with the American Red Cross, salaried,      non-essential state employees can receive expedited volunteer      certifications for disaster services so that they may assist in or operate      shelters in response to Hurricane Irma impacts and preparation. Florida      law allows Governor Scott to grant full-time, salaried state employees up      to 15 days of administrative leave for emergency volunteer efforts through      the American Red Cross. Employees can register HERE.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

• Governor Rick Scott has directed all public K-12      schools, state colleges, state universities to close Friday, September 8 –      Monday, September 11.
• The Florida Department of Education is in contact with      school districts, state colleges and universities as all continue to      monitor Irma and her path. School closures are available at www.fldoe.org/irma.
• The Florida Department of Education is coordinating      with school districts across the state to ensure they are working with      local governments and emergency management officials to offer school      busses as transportation support if needed.
• Districts are preparing in the case that their      facilities are needed for shelters. Colleges are making emergency      preparations on their campuses and working with students who may need      assistance with relocation.
• State universities in impacted areas have safely      transported students to shelters, where necessary, and they will continue      these efforts.

FUELS

• All fuel ports in Florida are now closed for safety.
• Governor Scott has directed state police to escort fuel      delivery trucks so they can quickly deliver fuel to gas stations along      evacuation routes. Following the storm, state troopers will resume      escorting fuel supply trucks directly to gas stations.
• Governor Scott waived Florida’s motor fuel import tax      for five days to help bring more fuel to Florida for storm response and      recovery. To see the order, click HERE.

• Governor Scott has rescinded all weight and driver      restrictions for highways so water, food, fuel and emergency supplies can      be quickly brought to Florida.
• Following a request from Governor Scott, the same      restrictions have been waived in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Georgia,      Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.
• Governor Scott has spoken with President Donald Trump,      Vice President Mike Pence, FEMA administrator Brock Long, Department of      Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator      Scott Pruitt, and Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao about      waiving rules and regulations to get gas into Florida quickly.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved      an emergency fuel waiver at the Governor’s request which will allow more      fuel to quickly enter the state.
• For more information, please click HERE
• The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer      Services issued an order allowing for the sale of premium motor fuel at a      lower cost.
• Vice President Pence announced that the federal      government has waived additional rules and regulations to allow more fuel      to get to Florida fast.
• The state has worked with fuel suppliers to identify      excess fuel in the Western Panhandle to potentially arrange escorts to      ensure that there is fuel supply where needed for evacuations.

BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, & ECONOMIC STABILIZATION

• The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)      and the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) created an event in the      Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center (FLVBEOC) for      Hurricane Irma and are currently updating with up-to-date storm      information, situation reports and resources for the business community.      FLVBEOC is available at www.flvbeoc.org.
• The state has activated the Private Sector Hotline at      850-815-4925. The hotline is available for business inquiries about the      storm, preparedness information and post-impact information.
• The state is conducting daily Private Sector conference      calls to provide situational awareness and to address concerns of private      sector partners.
• DEO is continuing to coordinate with CareerSource      Florida, local workforce boards, and other public-private partners.
• Major retailers are being contacted to provide the      status of emergency supplies.

VISIT FLORIDA

• VISIT FLORIDA remains in contact with all destination      marketing partners and emergency contacts and has activated the Homepage Banner      and Florida Now page on visitflorida.com to advise consumers.
• Through VISIT FLORIDA’s partnership with Expedia, Expedia.com/Florida      has been activated to provide accommodations availability information for      visitors, residents and first responders.
• VISIT FLORIDA is sending a targeted Facebook message to      approximately 250,000 domestic and international visitors currently in      Florida advising them of Hurricane Irma and urging them to take necessary      precautions.
• VISIT FLORIDA’s Welcome Centers have transitioned to      emergency information centers to help direct evacuees with the most up to      date information.
• VISIT FLORIDA’s Welcome Center staff are all Red Cross      Certified and stand ready to assist at shelters and other areas as needed.
• Airbnb today activated its Disaster Response Program to      connect Floridians forced to evacuate from their homes due to Hurricane      Irma and relief workers arriving to provide assistance with temporary      housing through local Airbnb hosts free of charge.
• Airbnb hosts in the following Florida communities are      eligible to take part in the program and list their homes for free to      evacuees and emergency relief workers: Bay County, Escambia County, Leon      County, Okaloosa County, Santa Rosa County, Walton County, Holmes County,      Washington County, Calhoun County, Franklin County, Jackson County,      Liberty County, Gadsden County, Gulf County, Wakulla County, Madison County,      Jefferson County, Taylor County. These free listings are available until      September 28.
• Additionally, Airbnb has expanded free listings for      Florida evacuees to the Atlanta metro area. These free listings in      Northwest Florida and Atlanta are available until September 28.
• Walt Disney World in Orlando will close on Saturday and      remain closed through Monday.
• Universal Orlando will close at 7 p.m. Saturday and      will remain closed through Monday.
• SeaWorld in Orlando and Busch Gardens in Tampa will      close at 5 p.m. Saturday and remain closed through Monday.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICAL (ESF 8)

• Florida needs 1,000 volunteer nurses to help at our      special needs shelters. Nurses who can volunteer can email BPRCHDPreparedness@FLHealth.gov Nurses can also email HelpFL@FLhealth.gov.
• Under a State of Emergency, individuals are able to      refill prescriptions early. All health insurers, managed care      organizations, and other entities that are licensed by the Office of      Insurance Regulation and provide prescription medication coverage as part      of a policy are required to waive time restrictions on prescription      medication refills.
• The Florida Department of Health (DOH) is coordinating      with hospitals and healthcare facilities across Florida on evacuation      needs. DOH has coordinated the evacuation of 24 hospitals, more than 50      nursing homes, and more than 250 non-hospital health care facilities thus      far.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)      has Disaster Medical Assistance Teams on standby for Florida. These rapid      response teams aid in the provision of medical care to those who need it      after the storm.
• The Agency for Persons with Disabilities is working      with providers and partners to determine where available temporary housing      that might be available for clients displaced by the storm
• Two large providers in Central Florida have offered APD      the use of their vacant group homes if people with developmental      disabilities are displaced by the hurricane. So far, 76 group homes have      been evacuated in 13 counties.
• Regional Offices have contacted customers in      independent/supported living today and more than 730 people with      developmental disabilities have evacuated their homes. All waiver support      coordinators and providers were contacted earlier to ensure everyone has      an emergency plan for Hurricane Irma.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

• Free Xfinity WiFi hotspots are      available throughout the state for individuals in      need, including non-Xfinity customers, to help residents      and emergency personnel stay connected if Hurricane Irma makes      anticipated landfall in Florida. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots,      which are located both indoors and outdoors in places such as shopping districts,      parks and businesses, please visit Xfinity.com/wifi.
• Charter Communications opened all of their Spectrum      WiFi hotspots across Florida to help those affected by Hurricane Irma get      connected.
• The state continues coordination with telecommunications      partners to pre-stage resources and refuel generators for Central      Offices, tower sites, mobile response units and any other critical      infrastructure.
• Telecommunications Partners are monitoring fuel levels      for generators and back-up power supply for cell towers, mobile switching      centers and central offices.
• The state is working with city, county and state      entities to re-route phone lines, install emergency phone lines and      coordinate back-up communications equipment and methods.
• At this point, there are no out of ordinary reports of      any major outages.
• Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (FPREN) has been      sharing vital information about Hurricane Irma through their broadcast      network, social media and station websites. FPREN is also reporting      important news and information through the Florida Storms app and social      media pages.
• The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer      Services suspended restrictions to allow out-of-state gas dealers to      assist with fueling generators that support the constant operation of cell      phone towers in the event of loss of electricity.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

• The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) staff      has completed baseline shoreline assessments to help evaluate beach      impacts. DEP is also assisting in identifying and fortifying vulnerable      areas of shoreline.
• DEP is reaching out to drinking, wastewater and      hazardous waste facilities to help ensure preparation steps are being      taken, and has issued an emergency final order to ensure recovery efforts      are not hampered or delayed.
• DEP has inspected to ensure the security of all of the      48 state-regulated hazardous waste cleanup sites statewide.
• More than 130 Florida State Parks are currently closed      with additional closures expected. A full list of closures can be found      at https://floridastateparks.org/content/storm-information

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District      has completed pre-storm drawdowns that includes water releases from Lake      Okeechobee.
• Routine pre-storm inspections of the Herbert Hoover      Dike have been completed. The lake level is currently at 13.66 feet.
• The South Florida Water Management District continues      lowering water levels in canals and moving as much water as possible to      tide and south through flood control structures throughout its flood      control system in preparation for the storm.
• Field station staff have completed inspections of key      parts of the flood control system and ensuring adequate supplies of fuel      and equipment for pump stations. Pump stations will be staffed and      operating around the clock during and after the storm.
• The District is closely coordinating with local      drainage districts and governments to help them prepare their local canal      systems for stormwater runoff from the hurricane.

 

INSURANCE

• The Department of Financial Services and the Office of      Insurance Regulation (OIR) has activated its internal Incident Management      Team (IMT) for coordination of activities related to Hurricane Irma and is      preparing to respond to deployments as needed, and prepared to order      property insurers to submit claims information from Hurricane Irma.
• Additionally, in response to the Governor’s Office      Executive Order, OIR has notified all entities writing health insurance in      the state of their statutory obligation to allow for early prescription      refills. OIR is also coordinating with the Agency for Healthcare      Administration and Department of Health.
• Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is encouraging      all Floridians to keep all insurance and banking information in one,      easily-accessible place. Consumers can download a copy of the Department’s      free Emergency Financial Preparedness Toolkit. The Toolkit serves as a      one-stop shop for all finance, emergency and insurance contact      information. Download and complete the toolkit today.
• Consumers with questions about their policies and those      who need help filing a claim should call the CFO’s free Insurance Consumer      Helpline at 1-877-693-5236.
• OIR has updated its “Hurricane Season Resources” webpage, which contains links to information provided      by the Governor, Chief Financial Officer, Attorney General, Commissioner      of Agriculture, Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood      Insurance Program, and contact information for Florida’s property      insurers.